My Seven Month Restoration Complete
September 8, 2026
The last time I went back to where I grew up, it was a different environment welcoming me. When I say “grew up” I mean where I was raised. Many friends and family might not know that I’m not a native Cincinnatian. I am actually a native of Washington state. I was born in an army hospital where my dad was stationed at Fort Louis outside of Olympia Washington.
I have no memories of actually being there. I was only about six weeks old when my mom traveled back to Cincinnati, but Cincy is definitely my home regardless where I was born.
I have friends I’ve been close to for almost forty years and a great supportive extended family who’ve helped me through extremely difficult times.
As noted in my most recent post, my last trip had multiple layers of grief. What initially was meant as a trip to pay respects to a lost friend, quickly spiraled into many layers that I had to quickly adjust to.
A mother unexpectedly transitioning to hospice, an absentee brother struggling with bipolar and my wife having to quickly exit Cincinnati to care for her elderly mother. I was gifted with a shit sandwich that I never requested but proceeded to chomp on it like my life depended on it.
Fast forward seven months and I found myself once again headed back home but for the first time in years, it was simply to reconnect. No one was sick, no one died, no one was needed anything but my company and I thought I was ready. Then shit hit the fan….again. Handfuls of it tossed straight into the whirling blades just to spray right into my awaiting face.
I don’t usually drive the ten plus hours across Pennsylvania to Ohio alone. My wife and I are great road trip partners and her absence was felt every mile I was on the road. I was exhausted most of the trip. Then add incremental shit storms of rain and by the time I entered Columbus I resembled the end stages of a crack addict. Having to pull over multiple times on I-71 because visibility was zero. This is what awaited me.
There were flash floods the day before and that didn’t help my mental state. I finally made it home. Unloading my shit in a torrential downpour I ended up face planting in my Aunts kitchen, hooking my foot on a dog gate. I’m fairly convinced I tore my rotator cuff! Yay another surgery!!!
I managed to pull myself together and start piecing together what this trip entailed. Probably taverns, friends, food and family in no particular order.
I spent a lot of time alone, just driving around Cincinnati. I have so many great memories of growing up there and wanted to revisit the haunts that I hold dear. One particular place I returned to was Cityview Tavern in Mt.Adams. I knew the owner from when we worked together at The Jewish Hospital as lab couriers picking up blood, urine and other ungodly things marinating in plastic tubs I care not to describe. I was hoping to run into a bartender named Cassidy that was kind to me during my times struggling with my mom, but sadly, she moved on to a diner in Northside. The views are still amazing.
Another Cincinnati must is the chili. Skyline chili. The only kind of chili I continously crave. Like a sirens trance, this starving sailor would crash a thousand ships into jagged rocks to get that 5 way and cheese coneys!
As a chef, this trip was all about food and it didn’t have to have a Michelin star next to it. I’m a working class guy, fill my gut with good food and watch me smile. The next pub I loved to frequent wasn’t just about good grub but the people who put it all together. Oaks Tavern in Oakley have some of the friendliest staff I’ve ever encountered and they remembered me seven months later. Miles who works in the kitchen recognized me even sans the beard seven months later. The place just rocks.
I made a previous post about fried chicken. If one to end up on a desert island and was able to eat one meal and only one, my choice would be fried chicken. I mentioned the Greyhound Taven in Ft.Wright Ky, but I ventured down Kelogg ave in the east end to the Hitching Post. It’s basically a hole in the wall that serves up amazing chicken with great sides. As per my picture, most folks order to go. Not this guy.
One restaurant that holds a place in my heart is The Northside Yacht Club. I met so many friendly and supportive folks while drowning my sorrows the last time I was home and their funky pub grub is to die for that I had to make a return trip. Even their veggie beyond burger rocks. And they make a killer martini.
My oldest friend Chris invited me for dinner. We both being avid foodies, I always jump at the chance to get together and share some wine, food and hours of great conversations. We’ve been friends for forty five years.
Chicken Picatta and Risotto
Trips home don’t usually include a culinary splurge. As you can see by my recent posts, I’m a working man over here!
It’s been tempting since Cincy’s dining scene has exploded with great places to eat. My friend Chris and I decided on splurging this time back. I chose Bouquet because my wife and I ate here a few years ago and our experience was excellent.
We decided on their prix fix menu so we could try multiple courses that wouldn’t stuff us or break the bank. We included wine as well. The food and service was incredible. As seen by my pics below, I encourage you to make a trip.
Cardamom cake with rhubarb
On my way back to Pennsylvania, I usually stop halfway and stay overnight so I’m not delirious by the time I get home. That morning, I felt rested and determined. I missed my wife dearly, and decided to plow straight through. A little over eight hours later, I was back home to my lovely wife’s welcoming arms. Amd of course my little nugget Harley. It was a great trip seeing all my friends and family.
Lambertville is a funky place. This small New Jersey city has a deep history dating back to 1732 and has visible ties to the Revolutionary War era. Beautiful row houses and narrow streets give this town a distinct historic charm.
There is a level of diversity we see here that we haven’t seen since living in cities like San Francisco and Portland. LGBT friendly, it is replete with artists, musicians, and a vibrant culinary scene that contributes to the rich culture of the town. It is a perfect mirror of neighboring New Hope which is right across the Delaware River in Pennsylvania.
We’ve dined at a number of restaurants here. The area provides a variety of different eateries whether it being Peruvian or an upscale steak house. One of our favorite places to visit is Bell’s Tavern.
It is a quaint yet very busy Tavern that’s has been family owned for years that offer excellent cocktails, wine and beer, and every Tuesday, they create a twenty dollar bottle wine menu and a twelve dollar pasta menu that comes with a salad and garlic bread.
My wife opted for the linguine with meat sauce. The portions are massive and we ended up taking half home. For an additional three dollars more, you can order another bowl. The pasta was cooked perfectly and their sauce was amazing. For two people, you could have wine and a full meal for less than twenty five dollars a person.
I opted for a steak, with mashed potatoes and a side of sautéed spinach. I haven’t had a steak in over a year, and it was spectacular. It was also accompanied by a side of roasted red bell peppers. Cooked a perfect midrare. The side of spinach had hints of chili flakes and a generous amount of garlic. We devoured it, no questions asked.
The place is always lively with a great mix of folks who frequently dine here. The service is friendly and efficient. We didn’t feel rushed even though the dining room filled up quickly. Our next visit we plan on sitting at the bar. It always gives off a party vibe when we pass through.
I highly recommend Bell’s Tavern to anyone who appreciates a well executed menu with great, friendly service.
Our Own Version Of Cheers Revisted
February 26, 2026
In the vast wasteland of Bucks County Tavern and Pub scene, there are diamonds in the rough that give you that Cheers feeling of inclusion.
My last few years as a chef have been mainly focused on upscale tavern cuisine. Simple, home-cooked meals, elevated but still approachable to the working class folks that keep these places humming.
We’ve tried a number of places to extract those feelings of inclusion and community. My previous employment at The Farmhouse Tavern comes to mind. Unfortunately due to poor management and unsavory business practices out of my control, this place is no longer an option for our dining needs.
We ventured into a local tavern just up the hill from our home called The Gardenville Hotel. Not a hotel anymore but it is an historic tavern dating all the way back to the Civil War, steeped in history.
We love connecting with local patrons. We tried this in Cincinnati at a place called The Friendly Stop in Glendale Ohio. Great food but friendly wasn’t on the menu. We literally felt invisible everytime we went in. Check please!
We initially went for drinks at The Gardenville. I’ve always been skeptical of pub food establishments. I always compared their food with mine and my wife always complained that she preferred my food over anywhere we ate. Not to sound ego centric but so did I.
We started going more frequently to Gardenville. It’s cozy, welcoming and the staff is always really attentive and seemed to love working there.
We noticed everyone ate when sitting in the bar section of the Hotel. It’s a small, funky space replete with deer heads, odd decorations and a comfortable seating area. Perfect for what we were looking for.
They have a decent tap list, a great to go beer selection and a well rounded food menu. We decided to try some of their offerings. We ended up being one of their biggest fans. Really good burgers, fish and chips and great turkey dinners.
Our wallets weren’t happy because I constantly drug my wife there because the social scene keeps us in a positive light being stuck in the middle of nowhere.
No one screams our name when we come in but they know what we drink, and are always happy to strike up a spirited conversation with us. It definitely makes us feel welcomed and that’s really important during these trying times.
Our Wedding Anniversary Trip To Easton Pennsylvania
August 30, 2025
We’ve been to Easton a number of times. It reminds me of old cities that still have their architectural charm like Cincinnati and Wheeling West Virginia. Both cities are surrounded by hills and turn of the century buildings.
We’ve never stayed overnight before and usually just visit their marketplace, which I wrote about earlier on this blog.
My wife surprised me by booking us a suite at the Grand Eastonian Hotel. They’ve turned a 1927 hotel into condominiums and reservable rooms and suites. Our suite was gorgeous with a balcony looking over the city and also has a heated salt water pool that was amazing.
Home
Surprisingly, the restaurant we made reservations with was directly across the street called Kabinett, which is named after a German style of wine. The meal and service were great. They have an enormous wine list as well. We do suggest sticking with noshing on a variety of apps. My steak, which was $59, came out a bit under done and wasn’t hot. They quickly remedied it, but we liked our apps much more.
https://www.kabinettwinebar.com/
We had a cocktail at a lounge two doors up that played great 60’s r&b that featured some excellent cocktails called Presley’s.
I highly recommend Easton Pennsylvania. If you are seeking a city, feel like New York but want more accessibility and a slower pace, this is a great town to visit.
Another Kroger/Mundy Collaboration!
August 16, 2021
I always get a little nervous making ravioli. Worrying about whether the mix is correct, will it lose flavor after hitting boiling water, will they break open in the process, will they, will they, will they? Procuring fresh pasta sheets locally is not easy.
I couldn’t find any place near me that sold them. What I traditionally used in the past were wonton wrappers. They are extremely versatile and have the same consistency as pasta. The local Kroger carried two different sizes. I opted for the smaller wraps for individual ravioli versus the large sheets that are used for egg rolls.
I wasn’t sure what I wanted to create for the filling. First, I was thinking smoked salmon, cream cheese, and fresh chives but ended up deciding on jumbo lump crabmeat and ricotta. I added lemon zest, lemon juice, and a citrus blend seasoning salt.
For the sauce, I created a beurre blanc using a great white balsamic vinegar, white wine, garlic, bay leaf, basil, heavy cream, and butter. It turned out excellent. I garnished the ravioli with chopped basil Chris brought from his garden and then shaved pecorino tartufello over the ravioli. The cheese has the same consistency as port salut but has bits of truffle in the cheese. It was delicate and didn’t overpower the dish with the truffle flavor.
Chris brought over his great homemade pesto and he created crostini with golden cherry tomatoes, tossed in extra virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper that were oven-roasted and then cooled. He assembled them with a layer of ricotta, the pesto and then topped them with the tomatoes. The combination was superb.
I have to say, this was one of the better dishes we enjoyed and it was fun resourcing the product and creating it. Not to mention the complex flavors.
